engleski

Refugee children in Croatia: experiences, needs and expectations

Over the past few years Europe faced the arrival of refugees from different countries. They left their homeland for different reasons such as escape of war, search for a better life, etc. By leaving their homeland, during migration process to the host country and during adaptation to the host country refugees are exposed to many stressful and traumatic events, especially harmful for children as the most vulnerable group. Interviews were conducted with refugee children (N = 10), 8 to 16 years old, who currently live in Croatia. The thematic analysis of the responses collected by the interviews included 14 subtopics divided into three broad categories – the main themes: experience of arrival and migration, experience of life in Croatia, and needs and wishes for the future. The refugee children described how the most important for their adjustment were relationships with family, friends, teachers, volunteers and employees of shelters and primary school. The refugee children also stated the need for stable and legal refugee status in Croatia, for a safe home and a desire to learn, especially Croatian language. The results of this research point to the importance of the support systems, formal and informal, for the process of adapting refugee children to new living conditions. The opportunity to recieve education, learn the language of the host country and be properly supported by informed teachers and peers are just some of the interventions that have proved effective in other countries where research on refugee children has been conducted. That brings out the question of universal needs refugee children and interventions for them have. This research provides a deeper insight into the needs and specific experiences of refugee children as a particularly vulnerable group, which can provide an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to find effective ways of working with refugee children.

refugee children, needs, experiences, migrations

nije evidentirano